Tesco Compare Launches at tescocompare.com

Tesco Compare, the aggregator site rumoured to be launching via the RBS group is about to go LIVE.In an interesting move from the RBS Group, they have launched an aggregator when one of their brands (Direct Line) has been adamant about disgracing existing insurance comparison websites. Scheduled live date is tomorrow, Thursday 13th September Rescheduled for Friday 14th. Tesco, the well known supermarket chain will start with a private carÂ insurance product and expand out to home insurance and other financial products like credit cards.

ThereÂ areÂ promisesÂ ofÂ aÂ betterÂ comparisonÂ engine,Â byÂ includingÂ policyÂ details. These canÂ beÂ comparedÂ onÂ aÂ like for likeÂ basis.Â Other promises include exclusive deals not found on other comparison sites provided by Nationwide, Churchill and Privilege. This should raise the bar of the somewhat crowded market and help customers – let’s see what you’ve got Tesco…

Looks like a “let’s just get something up there” effort. Anyone tried using the form with cookies turned off? Breaks! Presentation is shocking. Everything feels amateur. Sales messages are the bog standard for any aggregator these days. Independent (balls), save time and money etc. Boring.

Shame. I was really looking forward to seeing something new and exciting.

After quoting on their search engine last week, I was quite surprised to receive a car insurance solicitation email yesterday from Direct Line (an RBS company not on the Tescocompare panel). Has anyone else had this happen…

Body text: We have special offers for our special customers, so if you have more than one car in your household, you could benefit from up to a 10% saving if you insure your additional car with us. PLUS we are offering an additional discount of up to 10% when you buy online – just another way we make a good deal better!

You can bank on us – we try to give you a good deal AND save you money.

[Click for a quote]

When I challenged them where they got my email address AND name from, their response was to unsubscribe me with no further explanation.

Too many “Ern…” on this story! There is an Ernest, Ernie, and now me – Ernesto!

I am curious to see how Tesco will treat its existing motor insurance customers i.e. renewals. How will they deal with renewals if the new brokers/underwriters on panel price lower than their old existing panel? Does anyone know if Tesco re-broke at renewal?

Indeed, it’ll be interesting to see which product they push. It’ll give a clear sign of their profitability although they may give a weighting to the comparison side to give that a boost in the early days.

Kevin, I would admit that it’s quite a move up the charts. I’m not sure how long it will stay but the following may give you an idea of how they did it. (Although, perhaps your SEO agency should be answering these questions(!)).

Tescofinance rank second on Google for ‘car insurance’ now, using 1,250,000 backward links! Seems that this plus the Tescocompare site make Tesco a major player, but the strategy for Tescofinance is very naive considering they’ll get canned at some point for all those links.

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